Bacteria Broadly-Resistant to Last Resort Antibiotics Detected in Commercial Chicken Farms

Abstract

Resistance to last resort antibiotics in bacteria is an emerging threat to human and animal health. It is important to identify the source of these antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria that are resistant to clinically important antibiotics and evaluate their potential transfer among bacteria. The objectives of this study were to (i) detect bacteria resistant to colistin, carbapenems, and β-lactams in commercial poultry farms, (ii) characterize phylogenetic and virulence markers of E. coli isolates to potentiate virulence risk, and (iii) assess potential transfer of AMR from these isolates via conjugation. Ceca contents from laying hens from conventional cage (CC) and cage-free (CF) farms at three maturity stages were randomly sampled and screened for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter (CRA), and colistin resistant Escherichia coli (CRE) using CHROMagar™ selective media. We found a wide-spread abundance of CRE in both CC and CF hens across all three maturity stages. Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli phylogenetic groups B2 and D, as well as plasmidic virulence markers iss and iutA, were widely associated with AMR E. coli isolates. ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae were uniquely detected in the early lay period of both CC and CF, while multidrug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter were found in peak and late lay periods of both CC and CF. CRA was detected in CF hens only. blaCMY was detected in ESBL-producing E. coli in CC and CF and MDR Acinetobacter spp. in CC. Finally, the blaCMY was shown to be transferrable via an IncK/B plasmid in CC. The presence of MDR to the last-resort antibiotics that are transferable between bacteria in food-producing animals is alarming and warrants studies to develop strategies for their mitigation in the environment.

Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia coli, Biosecurity and Anti-Microbial Use in Live Bird Markets, Abeokuta, Nigeria

“…AMR E. coli are commonly found in food producing animals such as in the gastrointestinal tract of chickens and facilities in which these chickens are housed [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. The presence and persistence of resistance in commensal E. coli is a significant biomarker for the selective pressure enforced by antibiotic use and subsequent resistance predicted in other potentially pathogenic bacteria [ 20 ].…”

Molecular characterization of blaNDM, blaOXA-48, mcr-1 and blaTEM-52 positive and concurrently carbapenem and colistin resistant and extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli in chicken in Malaysia

“…Nevertheless, PCR-based methods have been widely accepted as gold standard for confirmation of resistance and are rapid, robust and reliable in detecting most resistant bacteria including carbapenemases [ 27 ]. A recent study by Jochum et al [ 28 ] reported a wide-spread abundance of carbapenem resistant E. coli (CRE) in commercial chicken farms in USA. The same study also reported the presence of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli phylogenetic groups B2 and D from the chickens.…”

Metagenomic Analysis Reveals the Microbiome and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Guangdong Yellow-feathered Indigenous Chicken

“…Next, PCoA analysis indicated signi cant differences in the structures of ARGs among the six breeds of broilers. We speculated the composition of ARG types would be different because of the distinct microbial community structure and diversity of both feces and the internal environment of the chicken gut [36], or different feeding patterns in the different breeds of broiler [37]. In summary, the results showed that the gut of commercial broilers contained drug-resistant bacteria.…”